458 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES. 
The pan is divided into a number of parallel compartments by 
means of a grating (fig. 121). The grating is supported by feet h, 
and, as is seen in fig. 122, each septum is T-shaped, so that a number 
of shelves are formed upon which the blocks rest. The pan is filled 
with spirit up to the level of the shelves. In fig. 122 only four out of 
the twelve divisions are shown. 
New Microscopical Cell.* — Mr. Hardy has introduced a new cell 
called the Vitreous, from the fact that the cell is fused on to the glass 
slip, thus making it one homogeneous whole, and obviating the risk of 
the liquid oozing out or the cell curling or moving. The cells are 
made in various sizes. 
Globigerina Shells in Polarised Light, f — Herr W. Schauf states 
that Globigerina shells, both recent and fossil, when examined in parallel 
polarised light with crossed nicols, 
show a dark cross and one or more 
coloured rings in each chamber. The 
arms of all the crosses are parallel to 
one another and to the rotation plane 
of the nicol. The double refraction is 
negative. 
Mould for making Gypsum Blocks.:}: 
— Mr. T. Bowhill describes a mould for 
making gypsum blocks intended for 
yeast cultures (figs. 123, 124). As 
will be seen from the illustrations, the 
cast is cylindrical with a long oblique 
surface. The two halves of the mould 
are held together with a rubber band, 
and, the internal surface having been 
smeared with paraffin, the plaster is 
poured in. When the mass has be- 
come hard, the block is removed and put in a test-tube along with a 
little water, and sterilised. 
* English Mechanic, lxix. (1899) p. 277. 
t Ber. Senckenberg. naturf. Gesellsch. Wiss. Abhandl., 1898, p. 27. 
x Centra] bl. Bakt. u. Par., 2 te Abt., v. (1899) pp. 287-8 (2 figs.). 
